The national C-section rate is at an all-time high of 31 percent. Are all these C-sections necessary, or are some of them done simply for the sake of convenience? Inductions seem to be the norm, but are they always needed? Today, expectant mothers are often left feeling powerless, as their instincts are replaced by drugs and routine medical procedures.

What you are about tThe national C-section rate is at an all-time high of 31 percent. Are all these C-sections necessary, or are some of them done simply for the sake of convenience? Inductions seem to be the norm, but are they always needed? Today, expectant mothers are often left feeling powerless, as their instincts are replaced by drugs and routine medical procedures.

What you are about to discover is that you have a choice, and you have the power to plan the kind of birth that's right for you-whether it is at a birth center, a hospital, or at home. In YOUR BEST BIRTH, internationally known advocates of informed choice RickiLake and Abby Epstein inspire women to take back the birth experience, with essential advice on:· Positive and negative effects of epidurals, Pitocin, and other drugs and interventions · Inducing vs. allowing your labor to progress naturally · The truth behind our country's staggering C-section rate · Assembling your birth team and creating your birth plan.

With chapters such as "Obstetricians: Finding Dr. Right," "Epidurals: You Haven't Got Time for the Pain," and "Electronic Monitors: Reading between the Lines," Lake and Epstein will encourage you to consider whatever your doctor, mother, and best friend may suggest in a new light. The book also includes inspiring birth stories, including those from well-known personalities, such as Laila Ali and Cindy Crawford. Packed with crucial advice from childbirth professionals, and delivered in a down-to-earth, engaging voice, YOUR BEST BIRTH is sure to renew your confidence and put the control back where it belongs: with parents-to-be!

"Abby Epstein and Ricki Lake have taken a wonderful and constructive approach to ensuring an optimal birthing experience. Their language creates a 'climate of confidence' for pregnant women and their families, who must make key decisions about where, how and with whom to give birth in a health care system often unresponsive to our needs. This book is like a good friend giving wise counsel." --Judy Norsigian, co-editor of Our Bodies, Ourselves: Pregnancy and Birth and Executive Director, Our Bodies Ourselves...more

Hardcover, 272 pages

Published
May 1st 2009
by Grand Central Life & Style
(first published 2009)

Community Reviews

I am not pregnant, but I got interested in this book after I saw Lake and Epstein's documentary "The Business of Being Born." The authors do not hide their bias for more woman-centered birth care (for healthy moms carrying normal pregnancies i.e. not breach, multiples, etc.), which almost universally comes from midwives. However, the authors' primary goal is to help each mom discover her best birth for her and how to get it. If that means traditional obstetric care and a hospital birth, they givI am not pregnant, but I got interested in this book after I saw Lake and Epstein's documentary "The Business of Being Born." The authors do not hide their bias for more woman-centered birth care (for healthy moms carrying normal pregnancies i.e. not breach, multiples, etc.), which almost universally comes from midwives. However, the authors' primary goal is to help each mom discover her best birth for her and how to get it. If that means traditional obstetric care and a hospital birth, they give you the tools to make the most of that experience. This book is exceptionally practical, offering lists of questions for women to ask care providers. It includes great info on the goals/strengths/limitations of different paths to having your kid, and explicitly lays out the cascading effects that can happen with the way most hospitals handle births. It neither deifies moms who choose home births attended by a midwife nor villifies women who choose to have a scheduled C-section in a hospital. If I had a pregnant daughter (or one who was contemplating pregnancy), I'd give this book to her. I can't recommend it highly enough. I hope this becomes the perinatal analog to "What to Expect When You're Expecting."...more

I found an interesting quote halfway through this book by a midwife meeting up with friends at a college reunion: "[They:] were divided into two categories: those who had chosen to deliver with a doctor, had had a bad experience, and promised me that next time they were going straight to their local midwife, and those who had done their homework ahead of time and had delivered with midwives."

That quote encapsulates the tone and feeling of this book perfectly. In the author's mind and in their deI found an interesting quote halfway through this book by a midwife meeting up with friends at a college reunion: "[They:] were divided into two categories: those who had chosen to deliver with a doctor, had had a bad experience, and promised me that next time they were going straight to their local midwife, and those who had done their homework ahead of time and had delivered with midwives."

That quote encapsulates the tone and feeling of this book perfectly. In the author's mind and in their descriptions, there are only two choices for births: a horrible, degrading experience with a doctor, or a beautiful, natural experience with a midwife. Oh, they give lip service about accepting C-sections when necessary and perhaps sometimes pain relief for those who are extra "anxious," but the absolute bias is there from the beginning, when they describe a "typical" hospital birth from beginning to end in such gruesome and awful detail that a naive reader would want to flee to the Himalayas and give birth on a mountainside rather than subject themselves to such indignities. In contrast, the beautiful, lovely experiences of all the home births and birthing center births are just the picture of perfection.

Laying aside the fact that I've had six "typical" births at a hospital, including twins, and have never been treated with half of the interventions or indignities they describe, I felt the book was absolutely insulting to all the good doctors who deliver babies. The message of the book is this: You might, if you are exceedingly lucky, end up with a compassionate, caring doctor who cares about your choices in birth, but most likely, you'll get one so scared of lawsuits and so steeped in the business that they'll force you into one unwanted intervention after another and rob you of the experience of becoming a "birth goddess."

Also, for a book whose sole purpose is to advocate for natural birth, there was surprisingly little information in it about actual labor management and coping techniques. There was a short chapter on some of the options and that was it. I guess they figured it was more important to spend the book advocating for midwives and disparaging doctors.

The book was also poorly presented, using very little research to back up their claims, and I don't recommend it....more

Every pregnant woman should read this for a good introduction to her different options for delivering a baby and why the standard hospital model may not be the best one. The book's conversational style makes it accessible to everyone, but it isn't fluffy. It doesn't vilify hospitals or doctors, but it offers a surprising peek into the way obstetrics is practiced in this country today, and how hard a woman often has to fight to have her baby the way she wants.

It intends to give an unbiased view oEvery pregnant woman should read this for a good introduction to her different options for delivering a baby and why the standard hospital model may not be the best one. The book's conversational style makes it accessible to everyone, but it isn't fluffy. It doesn't vilify hospitals or doctors, but it offers a surprising peek into the way obstetrics is practiced in this country today, and how hard a woman often has to fight to have her baby the way she wants.

It intends to give an unbiased view of all the options, but a natural birth definitely comes out on top. Some reviews here have called that a bias, but the authors don't actively promote one option over the other -- they just discuss how difficult it can be to achieve a natural birth in a hospital setting as well as the risks associated with the standard interventions. These are aspects of a medical birth that simply do not get discussed, and thankfully someone with some star power is making some noise.

One of my favorite lines was that a woman will spend more time researching a stroller than her options in giving birth, an experience she will remember for the rest of her life. Start your research with this book.

This book is perfect for those trying to decide what to do with their birth options, and even better for those trying to explain their desire to "go natural" to their friends or relations. It is so sad that in this day, you have to explain and defend your choice to NOT be operated on or filled with hormones - but this book gives very good, concise information to help inform others exactly WHY those options are not necessarily the route you want to take. It does not demonize the hospital birth soThis book is perfect for those trying to decide what to do with their birth options, and even better for those trying to explain their desire to "go natural" to their friends or relations. It is so sad that in this day, you have to explain and defend your choice to NOT be operated on or filled with hormones - but this book gives very good, concise information to help inform others exactly WHY those options are not necessarily the route you want to take. It does not demonize the hospital birth so much as put it in its (I believe) proper place - a thing that very FEW of us should need, rather than most of us. Everything in its place, including the always debated epidural. It put my mind at ease, having read it a few weeks before getting ready to give birth with my midwife, and helped reaffirm that I did make the right decisions for myself....more

I agreed to read this book to discuss it with a friend, not because I was drawn to it personally. I saw the documentary a year or two ago and this book is the follow-up to it. I found many of the premises to be really flawed. It was inflammatory, took facts far out of context to paint a very negative picture of childbirth in this country, and in many ways appeared to be a scare/guilt tactic. I think the benefits of the book are to help someone think through what they want their birth experienceI agreed to read this book to discuss it with a friend, not because I was drawn to it personally. I saw the documentary a year or two ago and this book is the follow-up to it. I found many of the premises to be really flawed. It was inflammatory, took facts far out of context to paint a very negative picture of childbirth in this country, and in many ways appeared to be a scare/guilt tactic. I think the benefits of the book are to help someone think through what they want their birth experience to be like, though reality isn't likely to perfectly match someone's plans or hopes. I don't think that a home birth is the only way to have a beautiful, fulfilling birth experience, and I fear they don't validate women who make different choices. I would not recommend this book....more

I really liked this book for the helpful lists of questions it provides for you to ask a doula, midwife, etc... Overall the book is very informational.

It is, however, very slanted toward a natural (unmedicated) home birth. Hospitals aren't exactly slammed out right, but the chapters on hospital birth centers and hospital births left me scared and feeling like the only way I would be able to control my birth was if I did it at home. So, the book is slightly emotionally manipulative which is dangeI really liked this book for the helpful lists of questions it provides for you to ask a doula, midwife, etc... Overall the book is very informational.

It is, however, very slanted toward a natural (unmedicated) home birth. Hospitals aren't exactly slammed out right, but the chapters on hospital birth centers and hospital births left me scared and feeling like the only way I would be able to control my birth was if I did it at home. So, the book is slightly emotionally manipulative which is dangerous when you're pregnant and hormonal!

If you choose to read this book, read it with your partner so he/she can keep you balanced and level-headed. It's really important to be informed of all your options, but it's also really important to stay realistic to your situation. While a home birth might be ideal, it just won't work for every situation. Or, you may prefer a birthing center but, like me, they simply don't exist in the area in which you live.

Read the book slowly, take it in, but check it against reality. ...more

I finished reading Your Best Birth by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein. I mostly really loved the book. (I will put the only drawback I found at the end.) Through most of the book I was thinking, this is exactly what I would say if I wrote a birth book!

I love that it is not a book about “natural childbirth” rather it is focusing on educating yourself on your options and choose what is best for YOU. That is my own personal point of view as a childbirth educator and mom. There are a lot of choices outI finished reading Your Best Birth by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein. I mostly really loved the book. (I will put the only drawback I found at the end.) Through most of the book I was thinking, this is exactly what I would say if I wrote a birth book!

I love that it is not a book about “natural childbirth” rather it is focusing on educating yourself on your options and choose what is best for YOU. That is my own personal point of view as a childbirth educator and mom. There are a lot of choices out there for birth. This book gives a great overview of many choices and the pros and cons in a very easy to read format.

I usually recommend The Thinking Women’s Guide to Giving Birth and probably still will. But it is definitely geared towards natural childbirth and more technical, so I think most mainstream moms wouldn’t read it. I think most moms would enjoy reading Your Best Birth. I want to buy a copy and give to every pregnant woman I know early in their pregnancy! The sooner you figure out what you want for your birth, the sooner you can see if your care provider is a good match for you.

Here are some of my favorite quotes and my thoughts about them.

Why bother learning about birth. You can’t predict what will happen!

“Even though you can’t predict, you can prepare. You can get to know your body, understand your fears, strengths and values and get familiar with how the medical world might react to all of that and all of you. This book is an attempt to put in your hands all of what we didn’t know when we started to consider the births of our children so that you can give your life with your baby a good start by arranging the best birth possible.”

YES! So true, you can’t predict what your birth is going to be like, but you can prepare to have the best birth possible. I think this book does that.

What is a Best Birth?

“…we feel that the true mark of a “best birth” is when the mother is respected, informed, and treated as a participant in every decision about her pregnancy, labor, and delivery. We have observed that when doctors and midwives treat mothers as active participants in their own childbirths, the mothers always feel empowered, no matter whether their births are natural or surgical.”

YES! Again a mom may have an elective cesarean be her best birth, after researching her options and making a choice to do so. If she chooses to have an elective cesarean because her OB scared her into it, it will not be empowering. It is the same type of birth, but very different experience for the mom.

Choosing Care Providers

“If your prospective caregiver makes you feel uncomfortable, difficult, or stupid sitting in the office, just project forward to how those same feelings will affect you on the day your child is born.”

YES! Choose your Care Provider wisely! This can not be overstated. Also, even if they make you feel comfortable, you still need to know where they stand on certain issues. If they induce most of their patients at 38 weeks, that will be setting yourself up for an induction. ASK questions and listen to the answers and notice how you feel when they are answering them.

Childbirth Classes

“…there is no other area in our lives where we would so easily give over the decision making. “Many peoples spend more time researching the stroller than they do trying to understand the physicality and the emotional-loadedness of getting a baby out of their bodies,” she said. And a good birth class might actually change your mind about some of the things you didn’t consider.”

YES! This is so true and so sad. So many moms don’t take the time to learn about birth. They say, “I will go to the hospital and they will know what to do.” This is crazy to me, the hospital knows how to give institutionalize, one size fits all care. So yes, they will know what to do, but it may not be what is best for you or your baby. Also dealing with your emotions and fears before your birth will help so much during your birth!

“Look for classes that limit enrollment to no more than ten couples and take up fifteen total hours of class time. Erica believes that’s the minimum time necessary to educate couples in all their choices as well as coach them in some effective coping techniques. “Massage is a tool; privacy is a tool; vocalizing, breath work is a tool; visualization is a tool. This is why I don’t believe there is a method. It’s like telling people there is a method for sex.”

YES! I like that they earlier said, “don’t take hospital based classes.” An independent childbirth class is the best place to learn about all your options. Smaller class sizes are better for more individualized instruction. Also I agree there is no “method” to give birth. I teach Hypnobabies, but in the class I am teaching many tools and with their practice at home they are reinforcing those tools. Then during their birth they have a huge bag of tools to pick and choose from!

What I didn’t like.

As a Hypnobabies instructor I was happy to see hypnosis for childbirth mentioned. Moms have different choices when choosing which method to use. Each program offers different tools and information.

From the book, “Some midwives and doulas feel that moms who study HypnoBirthing may derive benefits from taking the course but are often disappointed when they start to experience pain during their labors. These midwives and doulas warn clients not to harbor a false expectation that their births will be painless and then feel discouraged when they are not.”

This is a concern for many midwives and doulas that have only seen HypnoBirthing births. So I wish that they had shared information about Hypnobabies, which is a very different program.

Hypnobabies has medical grade hypnosis (same depth used in dental surgery), 6 post hypnotic cues, and 10 hypnosis scripts on CD to listen to with 3 just for your birthing day. The tools with Hypnobabies are so powerful along with complete childbirth information. I hate to see moms and care providers lump all hypnosis for childbirth methods together.

As the Hypnobabies Yahoo Group Moderator I read many birth stories where mom is completely comfortable for her birth! I have gathered over 200 here and continue to put new ones here.

So overall, I think this is a great book for expecting moms to read. Just remember if you are interested in hypnosis for childbirth, look at all your options! ...more

this should NOT have been the first preggers book i read.okay, the subtitle for this book is "know all your options, discover the natural choices, and take back your birth experience" but it should be "know that you will have to fight tooth and nail just to have a vaginal birth not lying down in stirrups." at least that is what it felt like.honestly, this book kinda freaked me out. it presents birth as an epic struggle between managed medical experience (bad) vs. all-natural home experience (goothis should NOT have been the first preggers book i read.okay, the subtitle for this book is "know all your options, discover the natural choices, and take back your birth experience" but it should be "know that you will have to fight tooth and nail just to have a vaginal birth not lying down in stirrups." at least that is what it felt like.honestly, this book kinda freaked me out. it presents birth as an epic struggle between managed medical experience (bad) vs. all-natural home experience (good). i get that this still happens, but for me -- at we heart breastfeeding/no nursery hospital, with an OB i like and trust, a lot of this didn't apply. plus no matter what, at the end of the day, i really do just want a healthy, live baby. i fully admit i judgmentally think that the attitude of this book, and that i've seen on doula and natural childbirth websites, is selfish: that MY experience is the most important thing. i get where they're coming from, but seriously. i lost three children already. if having a C-section is what gets me my son in his best health, then fine. yes, lots of good questions to ask the OB and the L&D peeps beforehand, and was a good prep for the L&D class (what to listen for) but also WAY too anxiety-producing about what could be done to me or forced on me or whatever. i get that i'm supposed to feel empowered by having knowledge, but hello i am growing a LIVE HUMAN BEING INSIDE ME and that trumps anything as far as feeling empowered. i don't give a crap about being a "birth goddess." i care about having a healthy baby & then being a decent parent.

I selected this book while browsing the pregnancy/birth shelf on the strength of the title alone, and I'm so glad I did. It definitely is biased towards natural childbirth - but what birth book doesn't have a bias? Afterall both Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein support homebirth, with Ricki having birthed one of her own sons at home. This was not a problem for me, since my birth philosophy lies along the same lines. I'm not sure if it was the best introductory book to the pros and cons of epidurals,I selected this book while browsing the pregnancy/birth shelf on the strength of the title alone, and I'm so glad I did. It definitely is biased towards natural childbirth - but what birth book doesn't have a bias? Afterall both Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein support homebirth, with Ricki having birthed one of her own sons at home. This was not a problem for me, since my birth philosophy lies along the same lines. I'm not sure if it was the best introductory book to the pros and cons of epidurals, pitocin, and other drugs and interventions, but it may act as a springboard to other, more statistical and study-based childbirth books which present all the choices to you. What I like about Your Best Birth, however, is that it actually is what the title says it is - offering expectant mothers all their options and letting them decide how, where, and with whom they would like to give birth. This is a companion book for the authors' documentary The Business of Being Born, which I can't wait to see.

Noteworthy chapters/passages:

-The forward, who is by renowned OB-GYN Dr. Jacques Moritz, whose own wives delivered at home with midwives.

-Not Your Mama's Birth Plan: particularly the World Health Organization stats and birth in the Netherlands (all healthy, low-risk women see midwives, and can choose they day they go into labor whether they'd like to have their baby at home or in the hospital). I want to have a baby in the Netherlands!

-Obstetricians, Finding Dr. Right, which talks about the legal pressures doctors face, and their residency training, which commonly consists of high-risk pregnancies, and the downside for having so much expertise. Love the analogies here, explaining how OBs "look" for ways to use their cool tools when they may not be needed. Also loved the former World Health Org. director of maternal/child health comparing hiring an OB for normal childbirth like hiring a child psychiatrist as a babysitter. The explanation of this new high-tech, low-touch method of childbearing, even how much is changed in the last 20 years, is enlightening.

-Midwives, Not just for Hippies anymore: Few Americans know the training and knowledge of a midwife. A midwife can do anything a physician can do except C-sections, vacuum or forceps-assisted deliveries, or repairing third or fourth-degree tears. They can arrange for an epidural, adminster pain medications, induce labor, give an episiotomy, or repair natural vaginal tears. Midwives are just plain awesome!

-Doulas: Great chapter for anyone who knows nothing about these labor companions.

-Electronic Monitors, Reading Between the Lines: Illuminating quotes from the inventor Dr. Hon, who's since said electronic fetal monitoring was never intended to be used so routinely and prevalently. Love the analogy that of course you're going to find something "wrong" with someone if you listened to their heartbeat 24 hours beat-by-beat. There are more quotes by OBs that call EFM "an embarassment", since it hasn't decreased cerebral palsy , mental retardation, or seizures after birth, and the C-section rate has only gone up.

-Cesarean Sections and VBAC: I had an non-emergency C-section myself for breech presentation and even I didn't know exactly what the surgery entails: moving bladder, bowel out of the way to get to your uterus after layers and layers of incisions, to have your uterus pulled outside of your body once the baby's out, set on your stomach, examined, and stitched up by the doctor. Eww, ouch. I don't want to have to go through that again.

-Take Back Your Birth: PLEASE see the World Health Organization Recommendations for the Best Birth, and how much they differ from standards and statistics in the U.S. Even though the U.S. spends millions more on health care than any other country, our maternal and neo-natal outcomes are far from the best, and our C-section rate is one of the highest in Western countries. ...more

I got this from the library thinking "what the hell would Ricki Lake know about the birth experience?" Of course that was kind of stupid of me since she DOES have two children and probably spent a lot of time reading and researching -- just like I am now.

Simply put, this book blew me away. Though some will find fault with the fact that it has an obvious bias toward natural birth away from the hospital environment, it leaves plenty of room to include women who have had all varieties of birth expeI got this from the library thinking "what the hell would Ricki Lake know about the birth experience?" Of course that was kind of stupid of me since she DOES have two children and probably spent a lot of time reading and researching -- just like I am now.

Simply put, this book blew me away. Though some will find fault with the fact that it has an obvious bias toward natural birth away from the hospital environment, it leaves plenty of room to include women who have had all varieties of birth experiences by choice or for health reasons.

The basic message of the book is that all women should be well informed whether they choose a traditional hospital birth or a water birth in their own home. Know your options and ask lots of questions so you can take back the birth experience!...more

Received this in advance of it's publication since we're having a showing of The Business of Being Born....this is the best book to prepare women to birth in an informed and empowered way. Do not read What to Expect When You're Expecting....rubbish...even docs hate that book. They won't like this one either as it reveals the shortcomings of hospital births. Each baby born on a doc's shift is worth extra money to the doc...shocking facts that should steer women away from controlling birth attendaReceived this in advance of it's publication since we're having a showing of The Business of Being Born....this is the best book to prepare women to birth in an informed and empowered way. Do not read What to Expect When You're Expecting....rubbish...even docs hate that book. They won't like this one either as it reveals the shortcomings of hospital births. Each baby born on a doc's shift is worth extra money to the doc...shocking facts that should steer women away from controlling birth attendants, and to those who respect her wishes and desire to assist rather than control....more

It’s pretty much The Business of Being Born in book form. It’s well written and easy to read, and it does help you to re-think your options and reconsider medicalized hospital birth. Not that it condemns hospital birth, but it does encourage homebirth and natural birth. However, what really, really bothers me about the book is that Lake and Epstein do not document their many claims. It strikes me as a bit hypocritical to harp on the need for obstetricians to practice “informed consent,” and then It’s pretty much The Business of Being Born in book form. It’s well written and easy to read, and it does help you to re-think your options and reconsider medicalized hospital birth. Not that it condemns hospital birth, but it does encourage homebirth and natural birth. However, what really, really bothers me about the book is that Lake and Epstein do not document their many claims. It strikes me as a bit hypocritical to harp on the need for obstetricians to practice “informed consent,” and then not provide much-needed information to their own readers to back up their claims. You can’t tell me that Lake isn’t wealthy enough to have hired a research assistant who could handle this for her. The only excuse is laziness....more

This book was a little bit too US based medical system to be of real use to a Canadian. A lot of what the authors talk about in terms of OBs etc. being afraid of performing a natural birth due to malpractice suits doesn't have much of an impact in the Canadian system as those are quite uncommon. That being said, I appreciated have all of the birthing options laid out. The book made me feel like no matter what I need to come prepared with a clear idea about what interventions I'm comfortable withThis book was a little bit too US based medical system to be of real use to a Canadian. A lot of what the authors talk about in terms of OBs etc. being afraid of performing a natural birth due to malpractice suits doesn't have much of an impact in the Canadian system as those are quite uncommon. That being said, I appreciated have all of the birthing options laid out. The book made me feel like no matter what I need to come prepared with a clear idea about what interventions I'm comfortable with and which I'm not. And that I may need some advocates in my corner when I'm too tired and in pain to protest or make informed decisions during labour. ...more

I was a little disappointed with this book, not because it didn't have relevant information, but because I felt it took a "tone" when it comes to hospital, epidural-related births. And this is why it took me a month to finish it; I was halfway through and I felt like I had to really push myself to finish it. Throughout the book, the authors say they want to offer women information so they can make informed decisions, but the underThe book was more 3.5 than 3, but there are no half stars here. :)

I was a little disappointed with this book, not because it didn't have relevant information, but because I felt it took a "tone" when it comes to hospital, epidural-related births. And this is why it took me a month to finish it; I was halfway through and I felt like I had to really push myself to finish it. Throughout the book, the authors say they want to offer women information so they can make informed decisions, but the underlying tone about choosing an epidural or choosing to have another c-section after your first was far from supportive. I do think this is a helpful book for women who are wanting to know about their choices because it does give the "other side" of things, but it's like the other books and information that's out there in being a little self-righteous.

I know everyone has an agenda, but I was hoping to find a book that was more here are the pros and cons with less well that way is fine BUT our way is way safer, better for mom and baby, and think about the effects of that hospital birth on your baby....more

There are not many books or movies that I watch that stick with me for a year after I watch them. Of course at the time they are amazing but I often continue living the same way afterwards. But one movie has ��� The Business of Being Born. Sandra encouraged me to watch it while i was pregnant (Okay, maybe it���s been two years) and it completely changed what i thought about giving birth. It is funny how much i had read about being pregnant, and then raising children, but i just figured that forThere are not many books or movies that I watch that stick with me for a year after I watch them. Of course at the time they are amazing but I often continue living the same way afterwards. But one movie has ��� The Business of Being Born. Sandra encouraged me to watch it while i was pregnant (Okay, maybe it���s been two years) and it completely changed what i thought about giving birth. It is funny how much i had read about being pregnant, and then raising children, but i just figured that for the birth I would go to the hospital and the doctor would take care of me. I didn���t realize that I had other options. Well, I was at the library last week and picked up a copy of the new book ��� Your Best Birth ��� which is meant to be an in depth accompaniment to the movie. I read it in two days and I reminded me of how amazing the movie was. To summarize ��� they empower you to be in control of your birthing experience. Whether in the hospital, at a birthing center, or at home. I like it because they want to educate women on birth so that they can make choices for themselves. It does have a bias towards unmedicated birth, but it was nice to read something that covers all your options.

My favorite part of the book was on interventions. I personally wouldn���t have someone amputate my leg unless i had read all about the procedure and knew that it was absolutely necessary. And yet people schedule C-sections as if they were just brushing their teeth! Maybe that sounds dramatic but in 1970 in the US the C-section rate was 5.5 percent and in 2006 it was 31.1 percent!! WOW. Almost of third of all deliveries will be C- sections this year. That is terrifying to me. (Many C-sections save mothers and babies lives, i do not have a problem with necessary ones!)

Anyways, If you are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant I would call the book/movie a must read. Even if you don���t agree, i think it is important just to know what the interventions will do to your body and your baby....more

This book introduces itself as a non-biased assessment of a variety of birth choices/options and that's undoubtedly a lie. The writers definitely want you to choose natural birth. Luckily, I am on their side of the fence when it comes to my personal opinion or else I would have given this book only one star. Reading this book with a level of skepticism is probably best, but ultimately I was very glad I read it and can think of a number of women and mothers I would recommend it to.

This level ofThis book introduces itself as a non-biased assessment of a variety of birth choices/options and that's undoubtedly a lie. The writers definitely want you to choose natural birth. Luckily, I am on their side of the fence when it comes to my personal opinion or else I would have given this book only one star. Reading this book with a level of skepticism is probably best, but ultimately I was very glad I read it and can think of a number of women and mothers I would recommend it to.

This level of bias is often equalled in literature from those with an opposite opinion so I see it as only attempting to bring balance to the way birth is typically presented to everyone in our era. Every other book I've read so far seems to want me to place faith in procedures and products for my upcoming birth and this one encouraged me to have faith in just myself. I could use that, so great!

Towards the end of the book it was a little less condescending towards those who may be considering a C-section birth. It almost seemed to take a moment and remind us that sometimes it's not a bad idea, and redeemed what may have seemed too preachy in the first portion of the book. When I reached this point I felt good about whatever it is I might choose in the end and I think that's the whole point of this book....more

Caveat to the reader: Your Best Birth is written by and for women who want to reclaim a more natural form of childbirth where medical intervention is relegated to emergency situations rather than instituted as commonplace pratice. It is not for women without a granola streak or who don't possess a single hippieish tendancy.

If your preference is for modern, standard pratice, medically managed chilbirth, you will not like this book. If you feel it is foolish to question the wisdom of labor inductCaveat to the reader: Your Best Birth is written by and for women who want to reclaim a more natural form of childbirth where medical intervention is relegated to emergency situations rather than instituted as commonplace pratice. It is not for women without a granola streak or who don't possess a single hippieish tendancy.

If your preference is for modern, standard pratice, medically managed chilbirth, you will not like this book. If you feel it is foolish to question the wisdom of labor inductions, enforced time limits on how long a woman can labor before being required to have a c-section, the routine use of labor augmenting drugs such as Pitocin, and the increasing frequency of cesarean sections, then this book will likely annoy you. And in fact, you will probably be offended by its suggestion that laboring and delivering flat on your back while hooked to monitors and numbed by an epidural can be harmful to your body and your baby.

If you don't hunger for a revolution in American maternity care and childbirth, put this book down and walk away. Reading it would be a waste of your time. What this book advocates is a less medically invasion form a childbirth similar to the European model, and it is arguable that its point of view is as biased as the one presented by the medical-industrial complex and endorsed by the American Medical Association. It's the other side to Big Medicine's one-sided story, illustrated by the personal experience of over a dozen mothers as well as doctors, nurses, and midwives.

Your Best Birth is heavy on the personal narrative although it contains relevant facts and statistics. It has a very conversational tone and is reader friendly rather than scholarly. The information in each of the chapters is illustrated by anecdotes from mothers, midwives, doctors, researchers, and medical professionals and include celebrity birth stories. Some of the authoritative sources interviewed in this book are Dr. Jacques Mortiz, OB-GYN, Dr. Marsden Wagner, former director of the maternal and child health division at the World Health Organization, and America's most famous midwife Ina May Gaskin.

Each chapter contains sidebars of additional information and personal stories. I thought the ones in chapters covering labor induction and cesarean sections were the most helpful. They detail good and bad reasons for inductions and c-sections. They also list questions to ask before being induced, c-section myths and risks, and legitimate as well as questionable reasons for having a c-section.

Chapter 2 describes the differences between hospital, birth center, and home birth venues and includes handy lists of questions to ask on a hospital tour, when selecting a birth center, and/or when considering a home birth. There are also lists of questions to ask when selecting an OB-GYN or midwife and when hiring a doula.

The appendix provides a toolkit for crafting a birth plan, and there are resources for further reading and an index....more

I thought this had some really good content, but was rather oddly organized. They start off saying they're going to explain things from every side so you can make informed decisions about what's best for you, but the beginning seems stuck on the scenario that you want a more natural birth and the hospital is trying to make you do things you don't want to.

Later on they give more detailed information, explaining epidurals, pain medications, different specific induction drugs and the risks and beneI thought this had some really good content, but was rather oddly organized. They start off saying they're going to explain things from every side so you can make informed decisions about what's best for you, but the beginning seems stuck on the scenario that you want a more natural birth and the hospital is trying to make you do things you don't want to.

Later on they give more detailed information, explaining epidurals, pain medications, different specific induction drugs and the risks and benefits of each. I think this is really important information because it seems that women are expected to agree to epidurals and induction and a multitude of procedures and no one really tells you how much it increases your risk of problems unless you go looking for information on your own, and very few people realize how important it is that they do since you expect the hospital and doctor to recommend the least risky course and they often don't.

After getting a lot of concrete facts and statistics, it seems natural that a lot of people would come to the point of view that the book seems to favor: less is best in most (but not all) situations, but most hospitals will pressure you to do more, possibly much more than you want. I agreed with this to begin with and it jives with my own observations, but I can imagine someone who hasn't made up their mind, or expects thorough pain medication but isn't aware of the risks might find the book biased and off-putting, and those are the people this information could really make a big difference to.

In the end I think the book delivers pretty much as advertised if you consider the whole, but the way it's organized makes it seem a lot more biased than it is, and the most important information is not especially accessible.

I read in another review that Pushed is better, and I have to agree. Pushed backs up opinions with facts a lot better, includes tons of references, and is organized in a more intuitive way....more

This is a very informative book that tells you all the things your doctor doesn't care to tell you. I have many friends who have gone through the exact circumstances that this book teaches you how to avoid. They have been induced for no medical reason (just because the doctor says they "are ready" to have the baby) then they end up with a c-section because the baby was "stubborn". Babies aren't too slow, babies aren't stubborn to come into the world (well, usually). Pregnancy, labor, and deliverThis is a very informative book that tells you all the things your doctor doesn't care to tell you. I have many friends who have gone through the exact circumstances that this book teaches you how to avoid. They have been induced for no medical reason (just because the doctor says they "are ready" to have the baby) then they end up with a c-section because the baby was "stubborn". Babies aren't too slow, babies aren't stubborn to come into the world (well, usually). Pregnancy, labor, and delivery is a perfect design that will work FOR you if you know what is supposed to, or isn't supposed to happen, and if you let your body take charge in an environment where you feel loved, respected, and powerful.

The most important thing is for a woman to be informed of her choices. I don't think many of my pregnant friends have realized their many choices; and almost all of America is extremely uneducated when it comes to childbirth. I even live in Alabama, where a midwife attended home birth is ILLEGAL! That's right. You can shoot guns out your backyard and make moonshine in your basement, but don't even think about trying to have a natural birth the way God intended! Even this does not limit my choices as I will just travel across the Tennessee border to get the care that I feel is right for me. Never allow anyone to put a limit on what you feel is right for your body.

Movies and television has bred a society fearful of labor and birth, and almost everyone is terrified of "something going wrong" when most of the time the things that go wrong are brought on by unnecessary procedures and interventions. This book outlines exactly what is considered high-risk (which honestly, isn't many pregnancies) and what are situations in which proceedures may be necessary. Knowing the facts, a woman can know the right questions to ask, and know the choices she is making are right for her, individually. We need to take a huge step back and look at the medical community for what it is - a business. ...more

I think that this book does a good job presenting all the options and helping women weigh the risks and benefits. It also reminds women that birth is big business for hospitals and doctors and that they need to be proactive consumers. Lake and Epstein mention that most women spend more time researching their stroller than they do the doctor or the hospital that are going to deliver their baby. Women need to do their research and demand the type of care that treats women like the "birth goddessesI think that this book does a good job presenting all the options and helping women weigh the risks and benefits. It also reminds women that birth is big business for hospitals and doctors and that they need to be proactive consumers. Lake and Epstein mention that most women spend more time researching their stroller than they do the doctor or the hospital that are going to deliver their baby. Women need to do their research and demand the type of care that treats women like the "birth goddesses" they are, especially when they are paying big bucks.

One of my favorite chapters was the one for women who are the victims of sexual abuse. Sexual abuse is topic that most birth books don't address, so I found it fascinating to read the birth experiences of women whose births helped them heal and to gain confidence in themselves and in their bodies. Birth is definitely not a "one size fits all" commodity and every woman should make an educated and personal decision about what type of care she wants for her and her baby. There will always be unknowns and uncertainties in birth, but it is empowering for a woman to know that if she is proactive she can create the birth experience she and her baby needs to heal and grow as an individual.

I would high recommend this book to any woman pregnant, especially a first time mother, a woman thinking (even remotely) about having a natural birth, a survivor of sexual abuse, or a woman whose first birth experience wasn't everything she wanted it to be. Birth really is goddess work and it is nice to read a book that reminds us of that....more

I'm not pregnant (yet) but after being pressured into several interventions with my first delivery (thankfully not a c section), I decided to look more into other birthing options. This book had convinced me into a midwife birth at a freestanding birthing center if possible with my next child and makes me feel much more confident about shopping the market for the right birthing team and making informed choices about birth.

While I could feel the writing was heavy slated towards the most naturalI'm not pregnant (yet) but after being pressured into several interventions with my first delivery (thankfully not a c section), I decided to look more into other birthing options. This book had convinced me into a midwife birth at a freestanding birthing center if possible with my next child and makes me feel much more confident about shopping the market for the right birthing team and making informed choices about birth.

While I could feel the writing was heavy slated towards the most natural option- home birth, I think they did a fair job attempting to explain how to maneuver hospital births and doctors. However I was disappointed at the way they painted most doctors as helplessly medical and always selfish in following hospital regulations, preventing lawsuits, and not using up their time on you, with VERY few exceptions. I've know some great doctors and nurses and I've know a few who fit this description. I don't think every doctor fits into the same mold.

Other than that, I was pretty impressed with how well researched the book was and the resources it provides. I'd definitely buy or recommend it. :) ...more

So far this one is a bit annoying. It has a definite anti-hospital slant to it which makes me question the "balanced" look the authors claim to present. It has offered some good points for me to consider, however. But ultimately our birth plan will be a decision for my husband and I, not Ricki Lake.

(2) I did not like the anti-hospital tone of this book. It would have been much more helpful if they truly did take a balanced look at all options – hospital, birth center and home birth. I do not belSo far this one is a bit annoying. It has a definite anti-hospital slant to it which makes me question the "balanced" look the authors claim to present. It has offered some good points for me to consider, however. But ultimately our birth plan will be a decision for my husband and I, not Ricki Lake.

(2) I did not like the anti-hospital tone of this book. It would have been much more helpful if they truly did take a balanced look at all options – hospital, birth center and home birth. I do not believe that all births at a birth center and home are perfect as the authors will lead the naïve reader to believe. Nothing is so black and white…there are nuances I’m sure. Seeing great hospital birth experiences as well as negative birth center and home birth situations would have provided a more accurate picture of the options for expecting mothers. The information in the book I did find helpful had to do with the different medical procedures, though, again, they were all in a negative tone and I’m sure I can find that same information elsewhere. I do wish the authors would have cited their sources. They use all sorts of statistical data to bolster their argument but do not share where they got it. I have a big problem with that. Share your source so people can look them up if they are so inclined…it keeps authors honest.

Addendum to this review since I had my son:I hate this book! I honestly believe I would have avoided my complications were it not for this book. I would have agreed to a C-section much, much sooner thus drastically decreasing the chance of infection....more

As I'm getting ready to give birth for the first time and thinking about where/how I would like to deliver, this book was a great help. Many things here that I wasn't told about by anyone else, so I never even had the chance to consider and make an informed decision.

While I don't agree with absolutely everything the book says, it spurred my thinking. Good resource for first-timers.

The first questions everyone asks me are 1. when are you due, 2. what gender; and then this is almost inevitably fAs I'm getting ready to give birth for the first time and thinking about where/how I would like to deliver, this book was a great help. Many things here that I wasn't told about by anyone else, so I never even had the chance to consider and make an informed decision.

While I don't agree with absolutely everything the book says, it spurred my thinking. Good resource for first-timers.

The first questions everyone asks me are 1. when are you due, 2. what gender; and then this is almost inevitably followed by "I bet you can't wait for that epidural!" Well, guess what? I don't want drugs. I never have. My ideal birth doesn't involve drugs or a c-section. While I'd still like a hospital birth, I want to have it as natural as possible. And this book helped me solidify why this isn't a crazy idea like many people in my life would have me believe. Yes, there will be pain; I may even scream for drugs. But if I go in knowing what to expect and knowing what I want and have the spousal/family support system I need, there's nothing I can't do!...more

I was given this book when pregnant with my first baby, but couldn't get myself to get past the introduction. For all their good intentions of making sure I "got what I wanted" it felt much more like the friends who had given this to me were pushing me to want what they wanted. I got pretty much the same feeling from this book.

I am now expecting my second and decided to give it another go. If the authors had prefaced the book as wanting to explain why unmedicated labor was desirable I would havI was given this book when pregnant with my first baby, but couldn't get myself to get past the introduction. For all their good intentions of making sure I "got what I wanted" it felt much more like the friends who had given this to me were pushing me to want what they wanted. I got pretty much the same feeling from this book.

I am now expecting my second and decided to give it another go. If the authors had prefaced the book as wanting to explain why unmedicated labor was desirable I would have been more willing to give it a slightly better rating. Instead this was presented as simply putting information out there so women could make their own decisions.

As another reviewer mentioned, this book is highly biased against Drs and hospital births. While it is true there are Drs out there that push C sections against a mother's will (I have a friend who had this happen to her for a VBAC, and it was very traumatic) it is also completely possible to have a totally natural childbirth at a hospital (a cousin recently did is at the same hospital as the above friend had her experience). I would have appreciated more information on seeking out a good provider, and things to do yourself to prepare for childbirth.

The biggest reason I had to dock stars was that while some studies were mentioned and occasionally cited in the text, I didn't feel that they did a sufficient job of citing exactly which studies they were using. I like to see data, and see what variables existed, how large sample groups were, how long the time period was, who was paying for the research and things like that. I felt like I was at the mercy of their interpretation of the data.

The final issue was, honestly, fairly inconsequential. With the exception of an opening example from the Netherlands, most of the detailed birth stories were from fairly well-off professional women living fairly urban areas. I really have very little in common with women like this. The story of a woman who traveled 45 min to a hospital she liked kind of made me chuckle, as I have lived places where the nearest hospital of any kind was 45 min away, and knew people who were much more rural.

All this said, there was a lot of good information and it did make me think a little harder about going without pain medication, as well as some other elements. I would probably recommend this book, but only if someone asked for a starting place for learning about natural childbirth....more

As a Canadian, I felt like a lot of this book didn't really apply to my experience, as its written for American women navigating the American health care system. That said, there were certainly some helpful sections that are more universal. But I felt overall like there was just something lacking as I was reading... Maybe it's because I just read the book A Natural Hospital Birth: The Best of Both Worlds, which had great information that was well-supported by research throughout, but this book sAs a Canadian, I felt like a lot of this book didn't really apply to my experience, as its written for American women navigating the American health care system. That said, there were certainly some helpful sections that are more universal. But I felt overall like there was just something lacking as I was reading... Maybe it's because I just read the book A Natural Hospital Birth: The Best of Both Worlds, which had great information that was well-supported by research throughout, but this book suffers from a lack of citation/referencing. Even when it mentions, say "a study done recent in Sweden," there is no citation provided so you can follow up on the research yourself, if you'd like. I find this a bit troubling. I enjoyed the section at the beginning where the authors detail their own birth experiences so you can see where they are coming from, which helps to clarify their own personal biases. They refer to their video The Business of Being Born quite a lot, but I suppose the book is somewhat of a companion to the movie, so I guess that's alright.... The writing is mostly pretty easy to read, but a bit inconsistent: sometimes it's technical, and sometimes written in an overly familiar style. There are lots of text boxes inserted in the main text, which comes off as a bit intrusive when you just want to follow a section through without interruption. Despite all this, there is definitely some useful information, especially about how to advocate for and achieve a more natural birth experience, though the authors' solution is typically to reject the hospital site altogether. Not a bad book, but I much preferred A Natural Hospital Birth, especially since a lot of the American content here was not relevant to me....more

According to the authors of Your Best Birth, the U.S. tends toward a model of childbirth that is far too focused on the medical, on bypassing the natural process of childbirth in favor of a managed, controlled and clinical production. Childbirth, in the U.S., is an emergency -- a crisis -- requiring constant monitoring and frequent intervention in the form of epidurals, episiotomies and c-sections. Indeed, the c-section rate in this country is much higher than it would be if the operation was peAccording to the authors of Your Best Birth, the U.S. tends toward a model of childbirth that is far too focused on the medical, on bypassing the natural process of childbirth in favor of a managed, controlled and clinical production. Childbirth, in the U.S., is an emergency -- a crisis -- requiring constant monitoring and frequent intervention in the form of epidurals, episiotomies and c-sections. Indeed, the c-section rate in this country is much higher than it would be if the operation was performed for lifesaving reasons alone.

In Your Best Birth, we are taken through a "typical" hospital birth as well as several alternative birth experiences. The stories are a mixed bag: some warm memories of a supportive, natural and beautiful experience. And, some regretful looks back at a loss of control over the birth experience in the hospital. Also, a lot of stories that fall somewhere in between, which is probably where most of us end up.

The authors are careful not to vilify doctors, who have the skills to save lives when that becomes necessary. Still, they point out that a healthy fear of malpractice suits leads to a focus on "covering the bases," on opting for intervention when nature is likely to have done just fine.

There is a strong message in this book that a home birth, attended by a midwife who has arrangements with a local hospital -- just in case -- is far preferable to a hospital birth.

The truth is, some hospitals are more enlightened than others. Some are very progressive and have their own birthing centers, support alternative pain management, and avoid c-sections when they can. But many Americans are locked into a particular hospital due to their health insurance. And many Americans can't afford the luxury of hiring their own midwives and doulas. They go where they must go, and receive services from those who happen to be on duty. Even in that situation, though, Your Best Birth has valuable advice about creating a birth plan and deciding in advance just what to insist upon in the hospital. (When is an epidural okay, if ever? Is an IV drip okay, or only one that allows the laboring woman to remain mobile? Is it OK to take the baby away to be weighed and checked out right away? Specify!)

My wife and I thought this was a valuable read, and it helped to balance out the other childbirth books we're reading, in which many of these issues are cast in a much less worrying light. As a result of reading this book, we're checking out all our options: home birth, a doula, a midwife, etc., and we'll make an informed decision.

Only one thing really bugged me about Your Best Birth. I understand that women are the main audience for this book. But in the part of the book where the authors give readers suggestions on how to introduce a male partner to these issues, why oh why don't they recommend that the partner read the book? Instead, the authors throw in a weird comment about some men not liking to read. That wasn't cool. I'm a guy, I read the book, and now I feel prepared to support my wife in a much more informed, grounded way.

Every woman expecting a child here in the U.S. should read this book. The expecting woman's partner should read it, too, in combination with other books on childbirth and pregnancy. Whether you give birth in a hospital, at home, in a birthing center, or on an L.A. freeway at rush hour, you'll be glad to understand the decisions to be made and the choices you have, so they don't overwhelm you when you're already in labor!...more

On the whole, there's a lot of good information here that's worth thinking about, though there is an obvious bias for a much crunchier style of birth than I'd feel comfortable with (there are a lot of stories of home births, for instance, and while it's a fine option for a lot of people, it's not for me). Still, a good resource to pick up just to know what the options are, and what "normal" things could complicate the experience. I probably wonYes, I've been reading this for the obvious reasons.

On the whole, there's a lot of good information here that's worth thinking about, though there is an obvious bias for a much crunchier style of birth than I'd feel comfortable with (there are a lot of stories of home births, for instance, and while it's a fine option for a lot of people, it's not for me). Still, a good resource to pick up just to know what the options are, and what "normal" things could complicate the experience. I probably won't follow a lot of the advice they're offering, but it is making me think more about things I'd already rejected, and that's always a good thing.

***[edit:] Now I'm finished with this. As I said, some information is great--it's really helpful to know the many ways in which the medical establishment might try to push a C-section, and the circumstances under which I should actually consider consenting--but much of the delivery (ha! pun not intended, I swear) is an oddly sanctimonious uber-crunchy campaign to make sure everyone attempts a home birth with a midwife.

Great for exploring your options; not so great as a how-to bible....more

One thing I find interesting is that many [negative:] reviews of this book claim that the book has a bias toward natural birthing. Well, hello, Ricki Lake is speaking out for the natural birthing community. The book's subtitle even says "Discover the Natural Choices". The whole point of this book is to bring these issues to attention. While they are pro-home birth, they are not against hospital births whastoever. It is about knowing all of your options so that you can make an educated decision.One thing I find interesting is that many [negative:] reviews of this book claim that the book has a bias toward natural birthing. Well, hello, Ricki Lake is speaking out for the natural birthing community. The book's subtitle even says "Discover the Natural Choices". The whole point of this book is to bring these issues to attention. While they are pro-home birth, they are not against hospital births whastoever. It is about knowing all of your options so that you can make an educated decision. Maybe if more people would try natural birthing they would understand why we love it.

There are many books out there about natural birth if you just look, but the point was to get one into a more mainstream audience. She is not the first person to ever talk about this subject, it has been going on for decades. I honestly love this book, I don't think they are "just trying to make money", they are trying to inspire women. They aren't using "scare tactics" to get their points across. Anyone who knows about or remembers Twilight Sleep or Thalidomide now, sure, that is some scary stuff. But, isn't it that those who don't learn history are doomed to repeat it? So instead of criticizing these advocates, why don't we listen to them, stop being ignorant and change things? ...more